Maryville Academy
Child Life Specialist – Maryville Academy
Position Summary: The Child Life Specialist is responsible for child life services and programs for children ages birth through 21 years in Maryville Academy Children’s Healthcare Center. Through development, implementation and documentation of services and programs this position promotes effective coping through play, preparation, education and self‑expression for children and their families to cope with the stress of an illness or disability, prolonged healthcare stay, ongoing treatments and procedures or psychosocial challenges. Provides information, emotional support and guidance for family members.
Responsibilities Provides developmentally appropriate play and activities to support normal growth and development and to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during respite or transitional care stay.
Creates an activity plan for each child using basic principles of family‑centered care.
Implements individual interventions and activities based on an assessment of a child’s development, coping style, diagnosis and psychosocial supports.
Ensures adequate understanding of medical care and experiences using play, developmentally appropriate language and teaching tools.
Uses developmentally appropriate play experiences to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during respite or transitional care stay.
Offers opportunities to play, learn, and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping and enhance developmental integrity.
Identifies resources as necessary for developmental intervention, play, coping education and family support.
Creates a positive environment for children, families and the community.
Supports continued growth and development for the child through group and individual programming.
Promotes adjustment of children and families to treatment, illness and disability.
Considers the needs of siblings or other children who may also be affected by a child’s health situation.
Communicates with members of the health care team through formal and informal means of transmitting information in order to provide optimal care of patients and families.
Participates in orientation training and mentoring of students and volunteers in appropriate developmental play.
Maintains and orders equipment and supplies for service and program.
Participates in the development and implementation of goals, data collection and quality improvement projects related to the CLS program.
Evaluates CLS services and makes recommendations to improve child and program outcomes.
Advocates for and addresses the psychosocial, spiritual, developmental and cultural needs of the child and family throughout the continuum of care.
Handles difficult situations proactively and collaboratively at the point of service. Develops new programs or projects to meet the needs of the service area.
Assumes responsibility for professional development through participation in seminars or other coursework.
Administrative and project management duties as assigned.
Maintains appropriate records and statistics.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (e.g., child development, child and family development).
Minimum of 1 year of experience in a child life setting or equivalent position.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
Ability to think proactively, act creatively and take initiative.
Excellent communication skills, ability to work as part of a team and adapt to changing healthcare environment.
Understanding of coping styles, child/family learning styles, needs based on developmental level, emotional state, cultural and religious practices.
Bilingual: English/Spanish language competency required.
Professional demeanor; ethical conduct expected.
Physical Demands Requires frequent sitting, standing, bending, stooping and walking for extended periods; occasionally lifts/moves objects or youth weighing in excess of 40 pounds.
Environment and Scheduling Work performed in designated administrative office and clinical settings; duties may involve contact with youth who may be hostile, threatening, aggressive and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Flexible and available to work additional hours when necessary.
HIPAA Privacy Training and Sanctions All employees with access to health information must receive HIPAA privacy training and comply with privacy policies. Violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Seniority Level Entry level
Employment Type Full-time
Job Function Health Care Provider
Industries Hospitals and Health Care
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Responsibilities Provides developmentally appropriate play and activities to support normal growth and development and to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during respite or transitional care stay.
Creates an activity plan for each child using basic principles of family‑centered care.
Implements individual interventions and activities based on an assessment of a child’s development, coping style, diagnosis and psychosocial supports.
Ensures adequate understanding of medical care and experiences using play, developmentally appropriate language and teaching tools.
Uses developmentally appropriate play experiences to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during respite or transitional care stay.
Offers opportunities to play, learn, and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping and enhance developmental integrity.
Identifies resources as necessary for developmental intervention, play, coping education and family support.
Creates a positive environment for children, families and the community.
Supports continued growth and development for the child through group and individual programming.
Promotes adjustment of children and families to treatment, illness and disability.
Considers the needs of siblings or other children who may also be affected by a child’s health situation.
Communicates with members of the health care team through formal and informal means of transmitting information in order to provide optimal care of patients and families.
Participates in orientation training and mentoring of students and volunteers in appropriate developmental play.
Maintains and orders equipment and supplies for service and program.
Participates in the development and implementation of goals, data collection and quality improvement projects related to the CLS program.
Evaluates CLS services and makes recommendations to improve child and program outcomes.
Advocates for and addresses the psychosocial, spiritual, developmental and cultural needs of the child and family throughout the continuum of care.
Handles difficult situations proactively and collaboratively at the point of service. Develops new programs or projects to meet the needs of the service area.
Assumes responsibility for professional development through participation in seminars or other coursework.
Administrative and project management duties as assigned.
Maintains appropriate records and statistics.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (e.g., child development, child and family development).
Minimum of 1 year of experience in a child life setting or equivalent position.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
Ability to think proactively, act creatively and take initiative.
Excellent communication skills, ability to work as part of a team and adapt to changing healthcare environment.
Understanding of coping styles, child/family learning styles, needs based on developmental level, emotional state, cultural and religious practices.
Bilingual: English/Spanish language competency required.
Professional demeanor; ethical conduct expected.
Physical Demands Requires frequent sitting, standing, bending, stooping and walking for extended periods; occasionally lifts/moves objects or youth weighing in excess of 40 pounds.
Environment and Scheduling Work performed in designated administrative office and clinical settings; duties may involve contact with youth who may be hostile, threatening, aggressive and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Flexible and available to work additional hours when necessary.
HIPAA Privacy Training and Sanctions All employees with access to health information must receive HIPAA privacy training and comply with privacy policies. Violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Seniority Level Entry level
Employment Type Full-time
Job Function Health Care Provider
Industries Hospitals and Health Care
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